What Affects the Rate of Weathering? The natural weathering of Earth materials occurs very slowly. The factors that affect the rate of weathering are: Climate Rock type and composition Amount of surface area Topography Organisms Chemical weathering occurs easily in climates with warm temperatures, a lot of rainfall and vegetation. In general, sedimentary rocks are more easily weathered than harder igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Climate Hot and wet accelerates chemical weathering Cold and dry accelerates mechanical weathering

Rock Type and Composition In general, sedimentary rocks are weathered more easily than igneous and metamorphic rocks. The cementing material of sedimentary rocks determines the weathering rate. Rocks containing the mineral quartz do not weather easily.

Amount of Surface Area The more surface area exposed to factors that cause weathering, the faster the rate of weathering will be.

Topography Topography is the shape of landforms such as hills, valleys, mountains and canyons. The rate of weathering increases with the steepness of topographic features. For example, weathering will occur at a faster rate on the side of a mountain than it will in a field that is level.

Living Things Living things, organisms, tend to increase the rate of weathering of rocks.